The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-25
BARNUM BURNED OUT.
Destruction by Fire OF Barnum q
Bailey's Great Circus and
Nenagerie.
Fearful and Shocking Scenes
Burned and Others at Large-LOss, 4
100000.
Insurance Small-Suspic;on Of 1noendiar.
ism-Alsrm Over the Escaps of Wild
Beasts.


building OF Barnum Il Bailcy's greatest
show on earth was entirely destroyed by
fire last evening. About 1880 O'Clock ar
alarm was sounded, quickly followed by {
general alarm aud thousands of pcopl,
were drawn TO the spot. In less than thirty
minutes the big building. go by 80 feet an.
two stories in height, was entirely con
sumed. The first intimation Of the fire wa.
given by the roaring of the lions and tigers
who seemed to realize the impending
danger. Next the elephants struggled
with their chains, but in an incredibly
short time the flames swept from one end
of the structure to the other. There were
six watchmen employed on the premises
but they were helpless to check the
flames. One Of the men was in the
horse building when his lantern ex
plOded, igniting tho hay aud straw. Five
Of the watchmen have reported, but one is
missing. The upper portion OF the building
was filed with hay and all the parapher
MALTA Of the great show. and before the first
alarm ceased sounding the whole building
was enveloped in fire and no one dared tc
approach the building, being fearful of the
crazed animals.
Three elephants were burnei and thirty.
six broke from their fastcnings and dashed
through the sides Of the burning building.
Their rOars and trumpetings and sounds of
torment were terrific. Six elephants and
a large African hippopOtamus rushed
about the streets, presenting sick
cning appearance, their sides beng burned
and great pieces OF flesh a foot square
falling IF. Thirty elephants and one large
lion made their escape and started of
across country toward Fairfield and East
Jon. Great alarm has seized many resi-
dents of the west end and they have taken
refuge within their houses with windows
barred. William Newman, the elephant
trainer, is out of town and the keepers
were not able in the excitement to herd
the frightened animals. In the horse room
were all the ring ANIMALS, trained stations,
ponies, etc. These were all burned. In
the upper rooms were the tents. poles,
seats, harness, etc, for the entire show
and these too were all destroyed. In the
main room were the birds, monkeys, three
rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions and all
the menageric, which fell q prey to the
flames.
So rapid did the flames leap across the
main building that the firemen made no at.
tempt to save it, but turned their streams
upon the chariot buildings and car Sheds
which they succeeded in saving, but the
heat was SO intense that this was accom-.
plished with great difficulty. The total
loss is estimated ut S7JOOOJ. upon which
there was but 100000 insurance. Before
the building went down BarDum's agents
were busy making arrangements for OBJ
tanning o new lot Of attractions to supply
the loss. Mr.. Brothwell, Barnum's Bridge
port agent, stated that the show building
would be rebuilt, but not in Bridgeport.
The great show would probably go to Jcr-
sey City, where better railroad facilities
could be had.
One Of the watchmen declares that in
making his rounds he discovered the fire
and started to give the alarm, when some
unknown person hit him on the head with
a blunt instrument telling him to the
ground and cutting number of severe
gashes in his head. He staggered TO his
feet and gave the alarm. enabling the other
watchmen in the bulding. who were pre-.
pairing for bed, to escape Que of the three
elephants burned was the sacred white ele-
plant. The lion which the police attempt
ed to kill at the time the fire broke out
was afterward found In barn devourng u
COW which he had killed. He was shot